Woman steals from bank

Elmo

A 39-YEAR-OLD woman who worked at the Department of Agriculture has pleaded guilty to embezzling €100,000 from the Bank of Ireland.

Fiona Finnegan, from Sylane, Tuam, Co Galway, and her husband were deeply in debt, a defence barrister told Galway Circuit Criminal Court, and a failed property developing scheme contributed to their marriage breaking up.

He said his client was desperate, at the time she took the funds, to find money to save her business and ultimately her marriage. The pair have three children.

Evidence was given that she had convinced staff to electronically transfer money to a Turkish account before a €100,000 cheque she had written on her former, and empty, current account with AIB had been cleared.

Finnegan pleaded guilty yesterday to stealing €100,000 from the Bank of Ireland, Dublin Road, Tuam on November 22nd, 2006.

Judge Raymond Groarke said the theft had been pursUed with “calculation and vigour”.

“It ought not to have worked but for an error by some member of staff who paid out the money before the money came in,” he said.

Detective Garda Mary Burke said the woman had given her a bank draft for €100,000 made payable to Bank of Ireland yesterday morning in court.

Imposing a suspended 18-month sentence on Finnegan, the judge noted she could have paid the money back sooner and had the benefit of that for the last 3½ years.

But, the judge said, the fact that she was repaying the Bank of Ireland now had saved her from serving the prison sentence.

Defence barrister Francis Comerford said Finnegan had tried to become a property developer and at the time she desperately wanted the money transferred to her solicitor in Turkey so that she could secure a share in an apartment block.

For the defence Mr Comerford contended this was not a sophisticated way of taking money from a bank and his client was bound to be caught once the cheque did not clear.

“If the most basic procedures had been followed by the bank no money would have been paid out at all.

“This was a desperate gesture by her and it’s amazing that it produced any money at all,” the barrister said.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0508/1224269947044.html

I know it is not quite the same as handing bankers large loans to invest into other banks, but surely it is similar which would mean the government could arrest some people involved in the banking crisis. No?

dunsandin

Similar,except for the scale, and the fact that she did not abide by company law and dress the theft up as a complex financial instrument. It's not theft when it involves an un-repaid directors loan, board sanctioned and buried in a deep layer of corporate jargon.

stepbar

Elmo wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0508/1224269947044.html

I know it is not quite the same as handing bankers large loans to invest into other banks, but surely it is similar which would mean the government could arrest some people involved in the banking crisis. No?

what are you on about?

Elmo

stepbar wrote: »

what are you on about?

I hate these types of questions. In other words are you a ****ing idiot? Perhaps I am.

Similar,except for the scale, and the fact that she did not abide by company law and dress the theft up as a complex financial instrument. It's not theft when it involves an un-repaid directors loan, board sanctioned and buried in a deep layer of corporate jargon.

I don't know she wrote a cheque for development property that had not worked, and the bank transfered it to her Turkish account. But your right she was possibly too honest.

dunsandin

stepbar wrote: »

what are you on about?

What are you on about? Seems a very simple preposition to me, but maybe I am an idiot as well.

Sponge Bob

She should have stuck to taking brown envelopes off farmers to expedite dem grant cheques that are coming anyway ....like certain of her colleagues do. Grand Guignol fraud is most unbecoming in the civil service.

Elmo

dunsandin wrote: »

What are you on about? Seems a very simple preposition to me, but maybe I am an idiot as well.

It is the tone of the question. In other words your talking crap. But perhaps I am being too sensitive. Especially after you had explained further what I was talking about.

I don't think she did steal money from the bank, she just cheated a little bit not a major issue when you look at the other cheaters in the country.

Japer

Sponge Bob wrote: »

She should have stuck to taking brown envelopes off farmers to expedite dem grant cheques that are coming anyway ....like certain of her colleagues do.

Dont tell me dem people who give out grants are as corrupt as de planners ? Now I know why so many of dem civil servants own property abroad.

dan_d

Elmo wrote: »

I don't think she did steal money from the bank, she just cheated a little bit not a major issue when you look at the other cheaters in the country.

Dangerous sentence. That's the kind of attitude that will destroy the country completely....even further than it already is. If someone jumped in the Liffey, would you go in after them just coz they did it first? What she did was wrong, regardless of how you look at it.Stupid but wrong.

Tipp Man

Not sure what the big deal is here, she stole money from the bank, was caught (inevitably) was prosecuted, received sentence from a state appointed judge and paid the money back

Where on earth are people going with this thread??

Sleepy

The sentence would be my problem with this. Steal 100k don't see the inside of a jail cell!? :eek:

How many thiefs are in Mountjoy for robbing cars worth a tenth of that?

Elmo

dan_d wrote: »

Dangerous sentence. That's the kind of attitude that will destroy the country completely....even further than it already is. If someone jumped in the Liffey, would you go in after them just coz they did it first? What she did was wrong, regardless of how you look at it.Stupid but wrong.

I was hoping for some satire but obviously it can't be got here.

At least she got a sentence unlike other people who walk into banks to take a loan out to buy shares in another bank and to make it look like their bank is solvent.

Sleepy

AFAIK, Anglo is still under investigation, no?

Even given the fact that she 'paid back the money' 3 1/2 years late that would account to a theft of €17,500 assuming a hugely conservative interest rate of 5%.

Elmo

Sleepy wrote: »

AFAIK, Anglo is still under investigation, no?

Even given the fact that she 'paid back the money' 3 1/2 years late that would account to a theft of €17,500 assuming a hugely conservative interest rate of 5%.

I wonder if the bankers will pay any of theirs back plus interest, should be a good return

Sleepy

Is 'but the bankers are robbing basterds too' a defence against any level of greed or criminality in this country now? :rolleyes:

Elmo

Sleepy wrote: »

Is 'but the bankers are robbing basterds too' a defence against any level of greed or criminality in this country now? :rolleyes:

Yes


What I was saying in my OP was that the government/AG/DPP now have a basis on which to move forward on arresting the people involved in the banking crisis.

dunsandin

Elmo wrote: »

It is the tone of the question. In other words your talking crap. But perhaps I am being too sensitive. Especially after you had explained further what I was talking about.

I don't think she did steal money from the bank, she just cheated a little bit not a major issue when you look at the other cheaters in the country.

Err, Elmo, I was sticking up for you, read my post. I thought your point was totally valid, I was asking the other lad what he was on about. I thought his post was a bit rude. You can apologise later...

rightwingdub

No big deal she stole it from the banks, if I were the judge I'd only have imposed a community service order of 50 hours just to really peeve off the wanker bankers:D

Elmo

dunsandin wrote: »

Err, Elmo, I was sticking up for you, read my post. I thought your point was totally valid, I was asking the other lad what he was on about. I thought his post was a bit rude. You can apologise later...

Sorry, post thanked.

stepbar

Elmo wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0508/1224269947044.html

I know it is not quite the same as handing bankers large loans to invest into other banks, but surely it is similar which would mean the government could arrest some people involved in the banking crisis. No?

She embezzled 100k. Regardless of what way Anglo accepted a 7billion deposit from PTSB, it was paid back. It wasn't embezzled.

So yes, what ARE you on about?

Elmo wrote: »

I was hoping for some satire but obviously it can't be got here.

At least she got a sentence unlike other people who walk into banks to take a loan out to buy shares in another bank and to make it look like their bank is solvent.

Other people? Who are these "other" people? Shares? Another Bank?

What???

Elmo wrote: »

What I was saying in my OP was that the government/AG/DPP now have a basis on which to move forward on arresting the people involved in the banking crisis.

They have a basis because someone "embezzled" 100k? Do you understand the concept of embezzlement?

I'd safely say the DPP weren't hinging on the result from that court case.

dunsandin

1. But it was borderline(ahem)fraud.

2. Seems he's on about somthing anyway, strikes a chord with me-comparison anybody?


3.Ever heard of a lad called Quinn, started with nothing he did.....Entered a golden circle apparently. Bought a newspaper lately??

stepbar

dunsandin wrote: »

1. But it was borderline(ahem)fraud.

2. Seems he's on about somthing anyway, strikes a chord with me-comparison anybody?


3.Ever heard of a lad called Quinn, started with nothing he did.....Entered a golden circle apparently. Bought a newspaper lately??

Sorry the word is embezzlement and you might want to check what that specifically refers to.

On about... eh.... sorry?

Did Sean Quinn own "another" bank? Did the Golden Circle borrow from "another" bank?


The OP is all over the shop. Much like this thread.

Elmo

stepbar wrote: »

Sorry the word is embezzlement and you might want to check what that specifically refers to.

On about... eh.... sorry?

Did Sean Quinn own "another" bank? Did the Golden Circle borrow from "another" bank?


The OP is all over the shop. Much like this thread.

That's only because you let it become all "over the shop".

I was pointing out that Anglo Irish Bank was accused of Doctoring finances. Fitzpatrick took out loans to buy shares in Anglo Irish Bank. He then moved the money into another bank before the year end. This caused the 150million loan to directors look like 40million euros.

In this case the woman involved, walked into BoI with a cheque for 100,000 from an empty AIB account. The cheque was cleared and BoI transfered the 100,000 into another account.

Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets, usually financial in nature, by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted.

Anyway as I said I was hoping for satire and I got Farce Thank you.

seamus

Elmo wrote: »

That's only because you let it become all "over the shop".

I was pointing out that Anglo Irish Bank was accused of Doctoring finances. Fitzpatrick took out loans to buy shares in Anglo Irish Bank. He then moved the money into another bank before the year end. This caused the 150million loan to directors look like 40million euros.

In this case the woman involved, walked into BoI with a cheque for 100,000 from an empty AIB account. The cheque was cleared and BoI transfered the 100,000 into another account.

Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets, usually financial in nature, by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted.

Except embezzlement involves the appropriation of assets, i.e. theft. No theft seems to have taken place in the Anglo debacle, just a lot of secrecy and dishonesty.

This case is completely unrelated to what's gone on in our banks, I don't understand where you're drawing the comparison.

In any case, there was a 3.5 year gap between this woman stealing the money and the case going to court. Given the scale of the banking problems, I imagine it will be roughly January 2014 before we see anyone up in court.

Elmo

seamus wrote: »

Except embezzlement involves the appropriation of assets, i.e. theft. No theft seems to have taken place in the Anglo debacle, just a lot of secrecy and dishonesty.

This case is completely unrelated to what's gone on in our banks, I don't understand where you're drawing the comparison.

In any case, there was a 3.5 year gap between this woman stealing the money and the case going to court. Given the scale of the banking problems, I imagine it will be roughly January 2014 before we see anyone up in court.

Would writing the cheque not be considered embezzlement? she was suggesting that she had 100,000 in her AIB account which was empty.

Anyway as I said people seem to be taking the comparison far too seriously.

seamus

Elmo wrote: »

Would writing the cheque not be considered embezzlement? she was suggesting that she had 100,000 in her AIB account which was empty.

I actually meant that the Anglo farce isn't embezzlement because there was nothing "appropriated" except goodwill.

Elmo

seamus wrote: »

I actually meant that the Anglo farce isn't embezzlement because there was nothing "appropriated" except goodwill.

"goodwill" or simply clearing loans for friends.

Was the movement of the loans from one back to another not a form of embezzlement, as they were making it look like the loans were smaller than they were in reality.

seamus

Elmo wrote: »

Was the movement of the loans from one back to another not a form of embezzlement, as they were making it look like the loans were smaller than they were in reality.

No, because no money was taken. The figures were made to look different, definitely, but at no point was any money surruptitiously removed. The money moved around was real money.

The problem here is that accountants, stock markets and money markets have actually invented their own forms of mathematics which make values appear where they don't actually exist. And this can be exploited such as in the Anglo case so that inconsistencies in the real maths are missed.

rasper

seems odd that she was free for the last 3.5 years with a 100k to play with, hands it back in court on the morning and walks free, while I think incarceration is pointless the whole situation seems to be bizarre.

Sleepy

Elmo wrote: »

Yes

Right so, care to post your home address and let us know a time you'll be out so we can rob you and use the new 'but the bankers are robbers too' defence to walk free from court?

Elmo

Sleepy wrote: »

Right so, care to post your home address and let us know a time you'll be out so we can rob you and use the new 'but the bankers are robbers too' defence to walk free from court?

Write me a cheque and I will give you some cash.

stepbar

Elmo wrote: »

That's only because you let it become all "over the shop".

I let it...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA :rolleyes:

Elmo wrote: »

I was pointing out that Anglo Irish Bank was accused of Doctoring finances. Fitzpatrick took out loans to buy shares in Anglo Irish Bank. He then moved the money into another bank before the year end. This caused the 150million loan to directors look like 40million euros.

In this case the woman involved, walked into BoI with a cheque for 100,000 from an empty AIB account. The cheque was cleared and BoI transfered the 100,000 into another account.

Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets, usually financial in nature, by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted.

Anyway as I said I was hoping for satire and I got Farce Thank you.

Poor attempt at satire..... :rolleyes:

Elmo

stepbar wrote: »

I let it...

AHAHAHAHAHAHA :rolleyes:

Poor attempt at satire..... :rolleyes:

I was hoping other would have something funnier to say on the subject rather than just hurling abuse at other posters. My apologies for looking for some levity in this forum.

stepbar

Elmo wrote: »

I was hoping other would have something funnier to say on the subject rather than just hurling abuse at other posters. My apologies for looking for some levity in this forum.

Eh.....

After Hours is that way

---

>

dunsandin

dunsandin wrote: »

Similar,except for the scale, and the fact that she did not abide by company law and dress the theft up as a complex financial instrument. It's not theft when it involves an un-repaid directors loan, board sanctioned and buried in a deep layer of corporate jargon.

so....

Fighting Irish

Elmo wrote: »

It is the tone of the question. In other words your talking crap. But perhaps I am being too sensitive. Especially after you had explained further what I was talking about.

I don't think she did steal money from the bank, she just cheated a little bit not a major issue when you look at the other cheaters in the country.

:rolleyes:

Head The Wall

Fighting Irish wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Definition

fraud (noun) ( CRIME ) - the crime of getting money by deceiving people

There we have it. She's a criminal and there has now been a precedent set. Return the proceeds of your crime and you won't do time.

dunsandin

I stole a mars bar in 1998. Im bringing it back. AOK.

Elmo

Fighting Irish wrote: »

rolleyes

:rolleyes:

ruthies

Elmo wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0508/1224269947044.html

I know it is not quite the same as handing bankers large loans to invest into other banks, but surely it is similar which would mean the government could arrest some people involved in the banking crisis. No?

OFC not because they are above everyone else and dont have to answer for nothing.